Ironing press and neck band holder



Oct. 3, 1933. H. COOPER IRONING PRESS AND NECK BAND HOLDER Filed Aug. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS Oct. 3, 1933. H. COOPER IRONING PRESS AND NECK BAND HOLDER Filed Au 15. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [A I L V7 OR A TTORNEYS,

A 'IIIIIII Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The Prosperity Company Inc.,

Syracuse,

N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 15, 1930. Serial No. 475,526

15 Claims.

This invention relates to pressing machines, and particularly to shirt pressing machines having neck holder means or blocks and clamps.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means whereby the neck band clamp is moved automatically out of its operative position as the press closes, and also to provide means whereby the neck band block depresses with or follows the padding on the lower pressing element during the compressing of the padding, and the neck band clamp releases from the neck band as the pad compresses, so that the portions of the shirt around the neck band are not subject to strain during the pressing operation, as they; would be if the neck band clamp remained engaged with the neck band block, or if the neck band block were rigid, or in some other way mounted so as to not move downwardly at the same rate that the padding is compressed, as when pressure is applied to the block to press it downwardly as the press closes. Other objects will appear throughout the specification.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions here-.-

inafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of pressing machine embodying my invetnion.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the lower element illustrating the spring pad, the manner in which the neck band clamp is mounted on the pad, and

the controller for releasing the neck band clamp.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the lower pressing element.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, illustrating the lower pressing element, the neck band clamp in operative position, the operating mechanism therefor, and the means for actuating the operating mechanism to release the neck band clamp.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary view illustrating the power means'for operating the actuating means for the neck band clamp into its inoperative position.

Figure 6 is a plan view, partsbeing-removed, of the operating means for the neck bandclamp.

' Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view of the I upper pressing element showing the cut-out or clearance for the neck band blockand clamp.

I have here shown my invention as applied to a conventional form of garmentpressing machine in any manner.

including upper and lower pressing elements or jaws 1 and 2, one of these elements, usually the upper element or ironing head being movable toward and from the lower element or buck 2. The buck 2 is shown as mounted upon a suitable bracket or goose neck 3 which in turn is mounted upon a frame 4. The head 1 is carried at the front end of a lever 5, pivoted between its ends at 6 to an upright 7 rising from the frame. The head 1 may be actuated in any suitable manner, and is usually power actuated, as by a cylinder 8 having a piston therein, the rod 9 of which is connected through suitable motion transmitting mechanism to the rear arm of the lever 5.

i The motion transmitting mechanism, here illustrated consists of an angle lever 10 pivoted at 11 at its'angle and having a forwardly extending arm 12 pivoted at 13 to the piston rod 9 and an upwardly extending arm 14 pivoted at its upper end at 15 to the lower end of a link 16 which is pivoted at 17 to the rear arm of the lever 5. The piston is usually single acting and the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder controlled The press is opened when the force tending to hold it closed is released by counterspringsl8, 19.

The lower pressing element or buck 2 is provided with a compressible padding 20, and preferably a comparatively deep spring padding, that is, a padding supported by or having embodied therein, springs 21. The spring padding may be of any suitable form, size and construction. The springs are overlaid with layers of fibrous padding, and the whole structure enclosed in a wrapper 22.

23 is what for convenience is called, a neck band block. This may be of any suitable 'form, size and construction, and that here shown is merely for the purposes of illustration, and insofar as this invention is concerned, the essential feature is the manner in which it is mounted so that it will follow the padding as the padding compresses without exerting any strain on the portions of the shirt adjoining the neck band, and this following movement is controlled solely by the compression of the padding, and not by any pressure applied to the block by the head 1, or by any other means to the neck band block itself.

The block 23 is here shown as overlyingand resting on the padding 20 and movably attached to the buck 2 or the body thereof, by one or more studs or guides 24 secured at 25 at their lower ends in the buck 2 and extending through the padding and the block, and having shoulders 26 at their upper ends separated from the block and coiled springs 27 between the shoulders 26 and the block. The block is shown as formed with a recess 28 in which the upper ends of the studs 24 and the springs 27 are located, and with a hollow stem or neck 29 extending through a hole in the upper layers of the padding.

30 is the neck band clamp movable into and out of position to clamp the neck band of a shirt against the edge of the block 23. This clamp may be of any suitable form, size and construction, and it is here shown as consisting of a loop or band of flexible material, the loop being U shaped in general form and having its ends secured to a carrier 31.

The carrier 31 has a portion 32 pivoted at 33 between its ends to an upright lever support 34 pivoted on the frame 4 or brackets 35 extending from one end of the frame. The carrier 31 and the neck band clamp 30 are actuated by any suitable means, that here shown being a lever 36, Figure 4, pivoted at 3'7 to a bracket 38 supported by the bracket 35 and having three arms, a link 39 pivoted at 40 to one of said arms and at 41 to the carrier 32, a sliding rod 42 pivoted at 43 to another of said arms and slidably mounted at 44 in a guide provided on the support 34, and a rod 45 pivoted at 46 to the other arm and slidable through the bracket 35. The link 39 consists of two telescoping sections with a spring 4'7 betweenthe sections for resisting endwise movement of the sections toward each other. A compression spring 48 is interposed between the guide 44 for the rod 42 and the shoulder 49 on the rod. A compression spring 50 encircles the rod 45 and is interposed between the shoulder 51 thereon and the shoulder 52 at the lower end of the rod 45.

The support or lever 34 has a forked bracket 53 at its lower end embracing the rod 45 and extending between the coils of the spring 50. The spring 50 tends to shift the support lever 34 to the right as the clamp 30 is moved into juxtaposition to the block and cause the clamp to overreach the block a distance far enough to let the clamp clear the shirt neck band before being tightened on the neck band. The support 34 is pivoted at 55 to have a slight pivotal movement. A handle 56 is mounted upon the same pivot as the lever 36.

In operation, the neck band clamp 30 is normally swung upwardly and laterally to the left,

Figure 4, and after the operator places the shirton the buck 2, or the padding thereon and places the neck band on the block 23, the operator pulls downwardly on the handle 56 and moves it into the position shown in Figure 4, thus rocking the lever 36 which pushes the'link 39 upwardly, and also pushes the rod 45 downwardly compressing the spring 50 causing it to make the clamp 30 over-reach the block 23. Thereafter, continued movement of the lever 36 thrusts the rod 42 outward, or to the left Figure 4, causing it to shift the support 34 to the left and engage the clamp 30 against the shirt neck band and hold the clamp in locked position due to the fact that the pivot 43 of the rod 42 is below a dead center line passing through the axis of the lever 36 and the rod 42 where it engages the guide 44, this spring 48 being stronger than the spring 50 which tends to move the lever 34 on its pivot 55 to the right. This mechanism forms no part of this invention, and the construction thereof is old and well known.

Heretofore, .the neck band clamp 30 has remained in its operative position during the pressing operation and after the press is Opened, the

operator pushed the handle 56 upwardly from its position shown in Figure 4, this movement causing the lever 36 to move clockwise and release the pressure on the spring 48 and increase the pressure on the spring 50 so as to cause the spring 50 to move the lever 34 to the right, moving the neck band clamp 30 away from the shirt neck band, and then further movement of the lever 36 in a clockwise direction, causes the neck band clamp to swing upwardly about its pivot 33.

One of the features of this invention, is the automatic release operation of the actuating means for the neck band clamp 30, preferably by the closing movement of the press, and in the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the release is effected or controlled by the compressing of the pad as the press goes under pressure. The releasing of the neck band clamp 30 from its closed position Figure 4, is effected by a controller 60 having a head 61 arranged to be moved downwardly by the pad 20 as it compresses, the controller being a rod extending through a suitable passage 62 in the buck 2, and means actuated or controlled by the rod for actuating the lever 36 of the operating mechanism for the neck band clamp.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, the controller 60 controls power means here shown as a cylinder 63 having a piston 64 therein, the rod 64 of which is connected to an angular arm 66 on the handle 56, and the controller 60 controls the flow of motive fluid to and from the cylinder 63 through a valve comprising a casing having a two-way valve as a normally closed spring pressed intake valve head 66, and a normally open exhaust valve head 67, the two valve heads being connected by a stem 68. The intake end of the casing is connected to a suitable source of supply of motive fluid as compressed air, through a pipe 69. The valve is operated by an angle lever '70 pivoted at 71 at its angle and having an arm 72 pressing against the stem 73 of the exhaust valve. The other arm of the lever '70 is connected to the controller 60, the motion of the controller being transmitted through a compression spring '74.

The ironing head 1 is provided with a cut-out complemental to the block 23 and the neck band clamp 30, this cut-out being of suflicient size to permit the clamp to be released when the press is closed, or going under pressure, at which time, the wall of the cut-out embraces the neck band clamp, or the portion thereof coacting with the block 23.

In operation, the operator places a shirt on the padding on the buck 2, bringing the neck band 30 around the neck band block. The shirt is placed with" the front only thereof overlying the padding 20 and in order that there may be a clearance for the back of the shirt which is hanging off the buck, the bracket or goose neck 3 is located or set in from one end, as the left end of the buck, providing a clearance at 75 for the back of the shirt. After the shirt is thus placed on the buck, the neck band clamp 30 is moved into co- ,action with the neck band block 23 by moving the 30 from the shirt neck band so that it does not hold or grip the neck band of the shirt as the pad 20 further compresses when the press goes under final pressure. As the pad compresses downwardly, the neck band block 23 follows down with the pad and the springs in the pad compress by which to return the circular neck holder block 23 to up position when the press opens. The spring 27 keeps the neck band block in contact with the padding as the latter moves downwardly with the pad 1.

When the press is opened by releasing the air in the cylinder 8, the valve heads in the casing 65 return to their normal cut-off position, permitting air to exhaust from the cylinder 63, as in Figure 5, but the piston 64 does not return to its normal position as it is held in its operated position until the hand lever 56 is again operated to its position shown in Figure 4.

Owing to the mounting of the neck band block 23 so that it follows the padding as the padding compresses, and to the release of the neck band clamp 30, the portion of the shirt adjoining its neck band is not subject to any pulling or tearing strains during the pressing operation, as it would be if the neck band clamp remained in operative position, of if the neck band clamp did not follow the natural compressing of the padding, or if the neck band block were itself forced down instead of naturally following the compression of the padding.

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, the lower element being provided with a compressible pad, a neck band block mounted onthe pad, a neck band clamp movable into and out of position to coact with the edge of the block, the upper pressing element having a cut-out complemental to the block and the portion of the clamp enclosing the block, means for operating the clamp, and means operated by the compressing movement of the pad for releasing the clamp when the press is going under pressure.

2. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, the lower element being provided with a compressible padding, a neck band block mounted on the padding, a neck band clamp movable into and out of position to coact with the block to clamp a collar band against the edge thereof, means for actuating the clamp into and out of operative position and holding it in operative position, and means operated by the compressing movement of the pad for operating the clamp actuating means to release the clamp when the press is going under pressure, the upper pressing element being provided with a cutout complemental to the block and the coacting portion of the clamp, whereby the movement of the block is controlled solely by the compression of the pad and the clamp is free to move to its inoperative position when the press is closed.

3. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is mova 1e to ward and from the other, the lower element being provided with a pad, a neck band block associated with the lower element, a neck band clamp movable into and out of operative position in which it clamps against the block, means for actuating the clamp into and out of operative position and for holding it in operative position,

' and means controlled by the movement of the movable element when going under pressure to operate the actuating means -for the clamp to move the clamp out of its operative position.

"4. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a neck band block associated with the lower element, a neck band clamp movable into and out of operative position in which it clamps against the block, means for actuating the clamp into and out of operative position and for holding it in operative position, and means operated by the closing of the press after the elements come into coacting relation, to operate the operating and actuating means for the clamp to move the clamp into inoperative position. I 5. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, the lower element being provided with a compressible pad, a neck band block mounted on the pad, a neck band clamp movable into and out of operative position in which it clamps against the block, means for actuating the clamp into and out of operative position and for holding it in operative position, means operated by the compression of the pad for operating the actuating means for the clamp to move the clamp into inoperative position comprising a controller member arranged to be moved by the padding when being compressed, and means controlled by the controller member for operating the actuating means for the clamp.

6. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, the lower element being provided with a compressible pad, a neck band block mounted on the pad, a neck band clamp movable into and out of operative position in which it clamps against the block, means for actuating the clamp into and out of operative position and for holding it in operative position, means operated by the compression of the pad for operating the actuating means for the clamp to move the clamp into inoperative position, comprising a controller member arranged to be moved by the padding when being compressed, and means controlled by the controller member for operating the actuating means for the clamp, the upper pressing elementhaving a cut-out complemental to the block and the clamp, whereby the block is controlled in its movement solely by the compression of the padding, and the clamp is free to move to its inoperative position when the press is closed.

7. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a neck band block associated with the lower element, a neck band clamp movable into and out of operative position in which it clamps against the block, means'for actuating the neck band clamp into and out of operative position and for holding it in operative position, and power means connected to the actuating means to operate the same to move the clamp out of operative position, and means whereby the power means is controlled by the closing movement of the press to move the neck band clamp out of clamping engagement with the block.

8. In a pressing machine, upper and lower pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, a neck band block associated with the lower element, a neck band clamp movable into and out of operative position in which it clamps against the block, means for actuating the neck band clamp into and out of operati've position and for holding it in operative position, and power means connected to the actuating means to operate the same to move the clamp out of operative position, and means whereby the power means is controlled by the closing movement of the press to move the neck band clamp out of clamping engagement with the block, including a controller arranged to be actuated by the padding during the compressing thereof.

9. An ironing 'press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a neck band holder on the buck, a band to grip and hold a shirt neck in place on the neck band holder, mechanism to swing the band to and from its gripping position, and means operated by movement of the ironing head to actuate the mechanism.

10. An ironing press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a neck band holder on the buck, a band to grip and hold a shirt neck in place on the neck band holder, mechanism to swing the band to and from its gripping position, and means operated by movement of the ironing head to actuate the mechanism to release the band from its gripping position.

11. An ironing press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a neck band holder on the buck, a band to grip and hold a shirt neck in place on the neck band holder, mechanism to swing the band to and from its gripping position, and push rod means controlling the actuation of the mechanism, said push-rod means being disposed in position upon the buck and movable by the ironing head when the latter closes onto the buck, for releasing the band from its gripping position.

12. An ironing press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a neck band holder on the buck, a band to grip and hold a shirt neck in place on the neck band holder, mechanism to swing the band to and from its gripping position, pneumatic means to actuate the mechanism and release the band from gripping position, and means controlled by the closing action of the press to controlthe movement of the pneumatic means.

13. An ironing press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a neck band clamping means including a holder on the buck to retain the collar portion of a garment in position, and including clamp band means, means to actuate the clamp band means, a passage formed thru the buck, operating means disposed in the passage and operated by the ironing head engaging the buck and having connections between the operating means and the actuating means for the clamp band means to actuate the latter when the ironing head engages the buck.

14. An ironing press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a pad on the buck, a push rod extending upwardly thru. the buck and resting against the pad, a neck band holder on the buck, a movable clamp means cooperating with the neck band holder to secure a garment collar in position, and operating means connected between the lower end of the push rod and the movable 100 clamp means to release the latter when the pad is depressed by the ironing head.

15. An ironing press having a buck and coacting ironing head, a neck band holder on the buck, a band to grip and hold a shirt neck in place on the neck band holder, mechanism to swing the band to and from its gripping position, releasing means connected with the mechanism to actuate the latter so as to release the band from its gripping position, and means operated by movement of the ironing head to actuate the release means.

HARRY COOPER. 

